Donald Trump’s new choice as special envoy to the United Kingdom is making something of a return to his roots: he grew up in east London before fighting for Britain in the Falklands.
Television producer Mark Burnett is the son of parents who worked at the Ford car factory in Dagenham, before enlisting as a paratrooper serving not only in the 1982 conflict against Argentina but also in Northern Ireland.
However, it was after moving to California that Burnett really made a name for himself and a fortune as the pioneer behind such hit shows as Survivor and The Apprentice.
And his hiring of Donald Trump as the leader of that last series is said to have helped propel the tycoon to the US presidency.
Burnett, 64, described himself as “Robin” to the US president-elect’s “Batman,” and also called Trump his “soulmate” after 14 seasons of The Apprentice together, in what he called ” one of the best relationships of my life.” life’.
And Trump, who defeated Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the November election and is preparing for his second term in the White House after a four-year absence, has returned Burnett’s praise in his new ad this weekend. .
Trump posted on the social media platform Truth Social, saying: “It is my great honor to appoint Mark Burnett as special envoy to the United Kingdom.”
‘With a distinguished career in television production and business, Mark brings a unique combination of diplomatic acumen and international recognition to this important role.
Donald Trump (left) was chosen by television producer Mark Burnett (right) to be the lead of the television show The Apprentice, which launched in 2004 and helped burnish the mogul’s profile.
Mark Burnett, raised in Dagenham, east London, has become one of America’s most successful television producers; He is pictured with his third wife, Irish actress Roma Downey.
Donald Trump, pictured with producer Mark Burnett, starred in 14 seasons of the NBC show The Apprentice between 2004 and 2015, before being elected US president the following year.
‘Mark is known for creating and producing some of the biggest shows in television history, including Survivor, Shark Tank, The Voice, and most notably, The Apprentice.
‘He is the former president of MGM and has won 13 Emmy Awards.
“Mark will work to improve diplomatic relations, focusing on areas of mutual interest, including trade, investment opportunities and cultural exchanges.”
However, it was Burnett who did the hiring when he opted for Trump to star in The Apprentice when he first launched the show on NBC in 2004.
Media analysts have suggested that the New York-based tycoon benefited from an enhanced profile and reputation thanks to the series, in which he judged aspiring businessmen despite their recent business struggles.
Burnett’s own rise had long demonstrated her own positive spirit, including working as a nanny and T-shirt salesman when she first arrived in the United States from the United Kingdom.
His parents, Archie and Jean Burnett, worked at the Ford factory in Dagenham, which at its peak in the 1950s employed up to 40,000 people.
He himself enlisted in the army when he was 17, serving as a corporal in Company C of the 3rd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment and taking part in the advance of British forces on the Falklands capital, Port Stanley, in 1982.
Mark Burnett, photographed at a film screening in Beverly Hills, California, in April 2018, moved to the US in 1982 after serving in the British Army and fighting in the Falklands War.
Mark Burnett (left) has described himself as ‘Robin’ to Donald Trump’s ‘Batman’ (right).
He has said of his military service that it taught him to “do as much as necessary with a lot less” and provided him with a “sense of adventure,” telling an interviewer, “My experience in the military shaped me as a person.”
After the end of the Falklands conflict in 1982, she emigrated to the US and settled in California, where she worked as a nanny for families and later traded T-shirts that she bought for $2 and sold for $18 each next to a fence. in Venice Beach. .
His career as a television producer took off after he was inspired by participating in a France-based expedition adventure race called Paid Gauloises in 1993, and then obtained a license to launch an American version called Eco-Challenge two years later.
This was televised and led him to develop the reality show Survivor, inspired by one of his favorite books: Lord of the Flies by William Golding.
Survivor was a huge hit in America, and the contestants had to fend for themselves and against each other in an isolated location.
Burnett, a thrice-married father of two, launched The Apprentice in 2004, and the winning candidate was promised a one-year contract working for Trump and a starting salary of $250,000.
He reportedly had to persuade Trump to participate; The businessman initially declared that reality shows were for “those who feed from the bottom of society.” Burnett himself is said to prefer the term “drama” to “reality show.”
But the show’s success is credited with helping boost Trump’s public profile, while he has celebrated earning up to $214m (£170m) from it.
Mark Burnett and his wife Roma Downey have worked together producing religious dramas including the miniseries The Bible and the film Son Of God and a remake of Ben-Hur.
Mark Burnett and Donald Trump were twice nominated for Best Reality Competition Program at the Emmys, for The Apprentice in 2004 and 2005.
Katherine Walker, producer of the first five series, told the New Yorker magazine in 2019: “I don’t think any of us would have known what this would become. But Donald wouldn’t be president if it hadn’t been for that show.
And television host and comedian Jimmy Kimmel, when he hosted the 2016 Emmy Awards ceremony, pointed to Mr. Burnett in the audience and said, “Television brings people together, but it can also tear us apart.”
‘I mean, if it weren’t for television, would Donald Trump be running for president?’ Many have asked: “Who is to blame for Donald Trump?” I’ll tell you who, because he’s sitting right there: that guy.
Trump hosted the show for 14 seasons until he was fired by NBC in 2015, and his children Ivanka, Donald Jr and Eric appeared on screen as advisers.
Meanwhile, Burnett’s son Cameron was the ring bearer at the 2005 wedding of Trump and future First Lady Melania.
Malibu-based Burnett, who previously ran his own marketing business, joined entertainment giant MGM in 2013 and served as president of MGM Worldwide Television Group from 2018 to 2022.
His other hit shows include The Voice, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader and Shark Tank, as well as religious productions such as the drama series The Bible and the film Son Of God.
He has embraced Christianity and philanthropic causes alongside his third wife, Irish actress Roma Downey, who received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in August 2016; A similar tribute from Burnett himself was unveiled there in July 2009.
Mark Burnett was the creative force behind Survivor, Shark Tank and The Voice and helped launch Trump’s reality TV career.
In his new ad on the social media platform Truth Social, Donald Trump described Mark Burnett as the producer of some of the biggest shows in television history.
Burnett appeared to distance herself from Trump during the 2016 presidential race, criticizing what she called “the hatred, division and misogyny that has been a very unfortunate part of his campaign.”
But he later introduced Trump at his first National Prayer Breakfast in 2017.
The then president said at the event: ‘But I also want to thank my great friends. Rome: where is Rome? Beautiful Roma Downey. The voice of an angel.
“Everything is so beautiful in Rome, including her husband because he is a very, very special friend, Mark Burnett, for the wonderful introduction.”
Burnett’s selection continues Trump’s trend of filling out his incoming administration with people who have high-profile experience in television or politics, or both, including his pick to be defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, a former Fox & Friends co-host. Weekend, and former TV doctor and failed Senate candidate in Pennsylvania, Mehmet Oz.
In response to Trump’s revelation about his new role in the United Kingdom, a spokesman for Burnett said this weekend that he was ““It is a true honor to serve the United States of America and President Trump as his special envoy to the United Kingdom.”
His duties will be different from those of the ambassador to the United Kingdom, a position that has been given to billionaire investment banker and Trump donor Warren Stephens.
Mr Burnett’s own wealth has been estimated at $450m (£360m), enough to buy 25m of those $18 T-shirts he promoted before transforming his fortunes and that of the president-elect who is now sending the message : “You’re hired.” .’